Myrkur

1) Myrkur is the one-woman black metal musical project of Danish musician Amalie Bruun. Initially the real-life identity of the person behind the project was kept unknown, however her identity has since been made public. Myrkur has released two full-length studio albums to significant critical acclaim, as well as a live album and one EP. Her most recent album, Mareridt, was released on September 15, 2017 through Relapse Records.

Though the word "myrkur" means "darkness" in Icelandic, Bruun's music encompasses far more than just that one dimension of music: with its distinct sense of Nordic isolation, MYRKUR is a definitively brutal creation, yet also a delicate and feminine one. Choral and folk elements abound, lending the music a mystical, legendary quality and an untouchable equilibrium between dark and light. MYRKUR’s influences range from nature to traditional Scandinavian folklore to Norse mythology and far beyond. Bruun elaborates, "I always dreamed about becoming a Huldra, an Elver girl, a Valkyrie, the goddess Freja. These powerful women in Norse Mythology have an element of beauty and mystique, but they are also deadly.”

Bruun formed the project and signed to Relapse Records in 2014. On September 16th that same year, Myrkur debuted with a self-titled EP on which Bruun provided the vocals, played all guitars and bass and produced the album. Drums were performed by her friend Rex Myrnur. In June 2015, Myrkur announced the release of her debut full-length album, entitled M, which was released on August 21, 2015 via Relapse Records to critical acclaim. The album was produced by Kristoffer Rygg of Ulver, and featured Teloch of Mayhem and Nidingr on guitars, with Øyvind Myrvoll of Nidingr and Dodheimsgard on drums. In August 2016, she released a live album titled Mausoleum which was recorded at the Emanuel Vigeland Mausoleum in Oslo, Norway. The album featured acoustic and choral reinterpretations of her previously released material with the assistance of the Norwegian Girls Choir and Håvard, former guitarist in Ulver. Her second full-length album, Mareridt, was released on September 15, 2017.

2) Myrkur is the alias of Rik Kooyman. Myrkur creates Dubstep music, influenced by a variety of experimental artists in Post Rock, Shoegaze, IDM and Ambient. He is, together with dj Nika, founder of the Radical organisation. Myrkur also makes Post Rock and Shoegaze influenced music under the moniker of Thou And Thy Army. Check out the Radical website and the myspace.